From Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25, the Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP) hosted its annual Spring Fair. In addition to the Spring Fair’s headlining concert featuring the rapper Gunna, students participated in a vast array of events organized by the HOP over the course of the fair.
Spring Fair kicked off on Thursday night with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s Culture Show in Shriver Hall. On Friday, the day of festivities started with the Eisenhower Library Beam Signing, during which students were able to sign their names on an iron beam placed in Keyser Quad, which will be used to help build the renovated Eisenhower Library. Additionally, students were able to play carnival games on Wyman Quad starting at 2 p.m.
From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the HOP organized a giveaway in which students received a free tote bag commemorating this year’s event. The demand and turnout was large, and the line of people waiting for the bag stretched all the way from Keyser Quad to the end of the Breezeway.
Freshman Shivanne Annand, studying Molecular and Cellular Biology, was unable to get a tote bag but enjoyed the other events the Spring Fair hosted.
“We didn’t get a tote bag because HOP ran out, but the carnival was nice. I got a teddy bear,” said Annand.
Speaking with The News-Letter on Friday, Annand shared her excitement for Saturday’s events.
“[I’m looking forward to] the Gunna concert for sure, and the sweatpants giveaway — I’m determined to get some, and I think I’ll actually buy some food from the marketplace,” said Annand.
Students also had the opportunity to get henna tattoos on the Freshman Quad, where the Food and Arts Marketplace was open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The food offerings included Sherri’s Crab Cake, Tia’s Italian Ice and Ekiben, which drew considerable crowds. In a tent on the Freshman Quad, students could purchase goods from local artisans, including personalized caricatures. The day came to a close on Friday with the Great Dubois Circus Performance at 6 p.m., as well as the fire spinning show at 7:30 p.m., performed by the Hopkins Entertainers Club.
Freshman Jenna Xue, studying Film and Media Studies, commented positively on the event's free offerings but noted that the food sold on the Freshman Quad was expensive.
“So far, it’s going pretty well… It’s also just nice to get outside because I feel like Hopkins students don’t get outside enough. The food was very good. It was a little overpriced, but I did like that they offered a lot of seating and a lot of things to do, and I also like that a lot of the things [were] free, like the Henna and the carnival games,” said Xue.
On Saturday, the HOP also gave out commemorative sweatpants branded with this year’s Spring Fair logo. The carnival attractions, food vendors and artisans were also all present for the second day of activities. WJHU Radio also organized its annual show, where student bands showcased their music on the Keyser Quad from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sophomore Abrefi Agyemang, majoring in Public Health, shared her insights on this year’s Spring Fair vendors.
“I like that it’s small businesses around the Baltimore community, so if I do enjoy the experience I had, I can go out and support them outside of the Spring Fair,” Agyemang said.
Agyemang also offered comparisons between this year’s Spring Fair and the event held last year.
“Last year, I would say, was a little bit worse than this year. I think it’s sometimes the artist that encourages people to go more. So if people like the artist, they feel like they need to show up more for the activities,” said Agyemang.
